Tum Scores Twice, Emana, Douala, Meyong, Epalle and Mokake Also Score

In another weekend full of goalscorers from Cameroon, Herve Tum netted two goals in France’s Ligue 1. Achille Emana also scored in France as did Marcus Mokake in that country’s Ligue 2. In Portugal both Rudolph Douala and Albert Meyong notched goals while in Greece Joel Epalle scored from the penalty spot. In Spain, Carlos Kameni kept his team in the fight for a spot next season in European competition by saving a penalty kick.

France

Herve Tum started at forward and was quite efficient in front of net scoring both of Metz’ goals in their 2-1 victory over Istres. In the 7th minute a corner kick eluded all of Istres’ defenders and Tum, at the far post, was there to knock it in with his right foot for the game’s opening goal. In injury time in the 92nd minute of play, Tum was there at the far post to take a pass from a teammate and knock in the game winner. These were the 7th and 8th goals of the season for Tum.

Achille Emana started at right side midfield in Toulouse’s 2-1 loss to Bastia. Emana scored Toulouse’s only goal of the match when, in the 78th minute, he intercepted a weak backpass towards Bastia’s goalkeeper, was alone against the goalie and knocked the ball into the back of the net. Jean Makoun started in central midfield for Lille in their 2-1 victory over Lens which allowed Lille to maintain 2nd position in France’s Ligue 1. Salomon Olembe started at left wing back but struggled a bit in Marseille’s 2-1 loss to Ajaccio. Jean Joel Perrier Doumbe started and played 84 minutes at right back for Rennes in their 2-2 draw with St-Etienne.

In Ligue 2, Pierre Njanka started at centerback for Sedan as they defeated Chateauroux 2-1. Sedan’s game winner came from Marcus Mokake, who entered the match as a substitute at forward in the 58th minute, and scored the go ahead goal in the 70th. Both Bertin Tokene at centerback and Gilbert Bayiha at goalkeeper started for Grenoble in their 3-1 loss to Dijon. Thierry Gathuessi started at centerback for Montpellier in their 1-1 draw with Brest. Also playing at centerback was Gueugnon’s Alexis Ngambi who started there in his club’s 1-0 win over Angers. Eugene Ekobo was Creteil’s captain and starting midfielder in their 1-1 tie with Guingamp and Julien N’Da started at left back for Niort in their 2-0 loss to Clermont.

Portugal

Rudolph Douala and Sporting Lisbon moved into 2nd place in Portugal’s SuperLiga with a 3-1 victory over Moreirense. Douala started at forward and in the 32nd minute he opened the game’s scoring when he received a pass from teammate Leidson on the right side and beat Moreirense’s goalie for his 5th goal of the league season. Because he was feeling some muscle pain where he had his recent surgery, Douala was pulled at the start of the 2nd half as a precaution. Midweek, Douala started again at forward in the UEFA Cup as Sporting Lisbon defeated England’s Newcastle United 4-1 to advance to the UEFA Cup semifinals 4-2 on aggregate. Douala’s speed and movement caused problems for Newcastle’s left back Celestine Babayaro throughout the match.

Albert Meyong started at forward for Vitoria Setubal in their 2-1 loss to FC Porto. In the 26th minute, Meyong expertly first timed a deep cross from the right into the net for the game’s opening goal. That was Meyong’s 9th league goal this year. He was substituted out of the game in the 56th minute. Yohanna Buba played a solid game at centerback for Estoril but his club lost 1-0 to Vitoria Guimaraes further complicating their season as Estoril now lies in the relegation zone. Buba also picked up his 10th yellow card of the season so for the 2nd time this year he will have to sit out a match due to yellow card accumulation.

Spain

Carlos Kameni had a big game for Espanyol in their scoreless draw with Atletico Madrid. Kameni saved a penalty kick by Atletico’s marksman Fernando Torres by diving to his left and tipping the shot away. It was the 4th penalty Kameni has saved this season, tops in Spain’s La Liga. Later in the match, Kameni again came to Espanyol’s rescue by once again denying Torres with a fine save to his right. The draw keeps Espanyol in the fight for a position in European competition next season as they currently stand 5th in the league with the top 4 qualifying for next season’s Champions League and the next 2 making it to the UEFA Cup.

Samuel Eto’o was a spectator on the sidelines as he nurses his knee back to health in Barcelona’s 2-0 victory over Getafe. Daniel Ngom Kome came on as a sub for Getafe in midfield in the 74th minute. Pierre Webo started at forward as Osasuna knocked off 3rd place Sevilla 1-0.

Italy

Pierre Wome played another good match as Brescia’s left wing back in his club’s 1-0 win in Italy’s Serie A over Atalanta. The win allows Brescia to move closer to salvation for next season although they still remain in the relegation zone. In Serie B, Thomas Job Iyock staretd at right side midfield for Pescara in their 2-1 loss to Empoli. Job Iyock was subbed out after 41 minutes. Alain Bono came on as a sub in defensive midfield for Ternana in their 3-1 victory over Crotone.

England

Lauren played right back for Arsenal in his club’s 3-0 win over Blackburn in England’s FA Cup semifinal. Lauren played a solid match and was quite effective both moving forward and defending when needed. Midweek, Geremi entered as a late defensive sub for Chelsea in their Champions League quarterfinal match with Germany’s Bayern Munich. Although Chelsea lost on the day 3-2 they still advanced to the semifinals of the Champions League 6-5 on aggregate.

Scotland

In Scotland over the weekend Gustave Bahoken started at left wing back for Livingston as they defeated Hibernian 3-0. Midweek Bahoken again played left wing back in Livingston’s 4-0 loss to Celtic but was subbed out after 68 minutes. He was replaced by Franco-Cameroonian forward Pascal Nouma.

Greece

Joel Epalle scored another goal in Greece. Epalle, playing as an attacking midfielder, started for Iraklis in their 2-1 win over Panionios. In the 38th minute, Iraklis was awarded a penalty kick and Epalle calmly knocked the ball into the net for his 4th goal in the 9 matches he has played for Iraklis since coming over from Panathinaikos during the winter transfer window. Guy Feutchine also had an active match as PAOK Salonika’s right side midfielder. Feutchine set up his club’s 2nd goal in their 4-1 win over OFI Crete and in the 45th minute had a shot hit the crossbar. Jean Denis Ouanga came on as a substitute in midfield in the 77th minute of Kallithea’s 1-0 win over Kerkira. Pierre Ebede was in goal for Chalkidona as they lost their local derby 1-0 to Ionikos and Nana Falemi played in defense for Ergotelis as they were beaten 3-1 by league leaders Panathinaikos.

Turkey

Galatasaray moved a bit closer to Fenerbahce as they took advantage of Fenerbahce’s loss to beat Sebatspor 3-1. Rigobert Song started at centerback for Galatasaray and for the 2nd week in a row picked up a yellow card. Alioum Saidou started in midfield for Malatyaspor as they drew 1-1 with Kayserispor and Herve Zengue played left back for Ankaragucu as they lost the Ankara derby 5-2 to Ankaraspor.

Germany

Lucien Mettomo started at centerback for Kaiserslautern but they were beaten 2-1 by Bochum in Germany’s Bundesliga. In the 2nd division (Bundesliga 2), Francis Kioyo started at forward for Rot Weiss Essen in their 2-2 draw with Oberhausen.

Belgium

In Belgium’s Jupiler League, Racing Genk beat Beveren 2-1. Justice Wamfor started at defensive midfield for Genk and set up the club’s openiong goal before being subbed out after 74 minutes. Eric Matoukou started at centerback for Genk before leaving the match at the start of the 2nd half. Samuel Ipoua came on as a sub in the 46th minute of St. Trond’s 4-3 loss to Lokeren. Patrice Noukeu started in midfield for Mouscron as they were beaten 1-0 by Germinal Beerschot. Jeremie Njock came on as a sub at forward for Mons in the 68th minute of their 2-0 loss to Standard Liege. Matthieu Assou Ekotto did not play for Liege as he was suspended for yellow card accumulation.

Russia

Shinnik Yaroslavl defeated Terek Grozny 2-1 in Russian Premier League play. Stephane Andre Bikey started at centerback for Shinnik as did midfielder Serge Branco, who was subbed out after 85 minutes. Jerry Christian Tchuisse started at right back for FK Moscow as they defeated Rostov 1-0.

Switzerland

FC Thun beat Aarau 5-0 over the weekend in Switzerland. Starting at centerback, and having a good match for Thun, was Armand Deumi. Returning to action after a long injury layoff was Aarau’s midfielder Augustine Simo. Also entering as a defensive sub after 43 minutes for Aarau was Jean Pierre Tcheutchoua.

Midweek, Armand Deumi again played a solid match as Thun beat Young Boys Berne 4-2 in league play. In the Swiss Cup, 2nd Division Luzern beat Aarau 2-1. Starting at forward for Luzern was Jean Michel Tchouga while Jean Pierre Tcheutchoua started and played 83 minutes at centerback for Aarau.

In Sweden, Joseph Elanga started at left back for Malmo as they defeated Landskrona 1-0. In Norway Somen A Tchoyi started at midfield and played 72 minutes for Odd Grenland in their 2-1 loss to Aalesund. In Denmark, Patrice Kwedi played midfield for AGF Aarhus in his club’s 2-1 loss to FC Copenhagen. In Ukraine, Patrick Ebanda started at defensive midfield as Arsenal Kyiv lost 2-0 to Zakarpattya. In Latvia, Aaron Nguimbats started at centerback as Skonto Riga beat Ventspils 3-1 and Jean Paul Ndjoumeck played defensive midfield for Venta in their scoreless draw with Jurmala. In Bulgaria, Daniel Bekono was the starting goalkeeper for Beroe as they lost 1-0 to Naftex. In Israel Ernest Etchi played at centerback as Bnei Sakhnin lost 4-0 to Hapoel Haifa. In the Czech Republic, Patrick Abanda started at defensive midfield for Teplice as they drew 2-2 with Blsany. Midweek in Serbia & Montenegro, Pierre Boya made a return from injury and started at forward for Partizan Belgrade as they beat Borac 3-1. Boya did not play for Partizan during the weekend as his club slowly reincorporates him back into the starting lineup.

In Uruguay, centerback Mustafa and forward Antoine Helha started for Plaza Colonia but their club lost 3-0 to River Plate and remained at the bottom of Uruguay’s First Division. In the United States, Alain Nkong entered as an attacking sub after 68 minutes of Colorado Rapids 1-0 loss at Real Salt Lake. Nkong had one shot sail over the cross bar as the ball bounced up on the artificial surface just as he was getting ready to strike it.

By Martin COUTLER

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